Local Democrats held a Christmas Celebration Monday night at the Courthouse.
State Representative Bo Mitchell of Nashville was the guest speaker.
Prior to the celebration, members of the DeKalb County Democratic Executive Committee met and named Jackie Smith and Ana Soto as ex-offio advisors to the local party to help focus on minority outreach.
Local candidates making remarks at the celebration were Michael Agee, candidate for Sheriff; Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillen, County Clerk Mike Clayborn, James L. “Jimmy” Poss, candidate for County Clerk; Amos Powers, candidate for Congressman; Will Robertson, candidate for Criminal Court Judge to succeed retiring Judge Leon Burns, Jr.; Circuit Court Judge Amy Hollars; and District Attorney General Randy York, who plans to be a candidate for Circuit Court Judge to succeed retiring Judge John Maddux.
General Sessions Judge Bratten Cook, II and Jimmy Sprague, candidate for Road Supervisor were unable to attend but were acknowledged.
Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss, Smithville Alderman Danny Washer, County Mayor Mike Foster, County Commissioner David McDowell, and Assessor of Property Scott Cantrell were in attendance but did not make a speech.

A Smithville woman was seriously injured Monday night when her car left the road and crashed into a tree on Highway 56 near Hurricane Bridge.
Central dispatch received the call at 7:15 p.m.
Trooper Jeremy Wilhite of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that 59 year old Belinda Rose Williams was driving toward Smithville in a 1998 Oldmobile Intrigue when she failed to negotiate a curve just past Hurricane Bridge. The car went off the left side of the highway and into the wood line where she struck a tree. Though partially ejected, Williams was trapped in the car.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Extrication Team were called to the scene. They removed the driver side door and pried the dashboard to help free Williams from the car. She was taken by DeKalb EMS to meet a Life Flight helicopter ambulance which landed near the scene. Williams was then flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. She is believed to have suffered broken bones and possibly other injuries.
Members of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Cookeville Highway and Short Mountain Highway Stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department were also on the scene.

A Carthage woman has been arrested in an Alexandria burglary investigation.
27 year old Demelza Jane Frances Grisham of Jordan Street, Carthage is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property over $500. Her bond totals $15,000 and she will be in court December 12. She was arrested on Saturday, December 7.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, November 18 Grisham allegedly made entry into a residence on New Hope Road in Alexandria and stole a Hewett Packard Laptop computer, $300 worth of rolled change, and a book of checks all valued at under $500.
The case was investigated by a criminal detective of the Sheriff’s Department.
A Smithville woman has been charged with filing a false report claiming her boyfriend had raped her.
19 year old Kellyie Dahn Wilkey of Poplar Street is under a $2,500 bond and she will be in court on December 19. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, November 16 Wilkey came to the Sheriff’s Department to file a report that she had been raped by her boyfriend. A criminal detective investigated the case and after conducting interviews determined that Wilkey had lied about the rape. After returning to the Sheriff’s Department for another interview, Wilkey admitted that she made up the rape allegation because she was mad at her boyfriend. She was arrested on Tuesday December 3 for filing a false report.
22 year old Reba Leach of South Mountain Street, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court December 12. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, December 3 a deputy went to Highland Drive on a domestic assault call. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the victim who said that she and a man were arguing when his girlfriend, Leach came up and pushed her and punched her in the lip. The two ended up fighting on the ground. The victim had a large knot on the back right side of her head and Leach had a small cut under her left eye. Leach admitted to pushing the victim and punching her. Leach was determined to be the primary aggressor. She was arrested for domestic assault and transported to the jail for booking.
28 year old Jessica Renee Bogle of Holmes Creek Road, Smithville is charged with evading arrest and violation of probation. Her bond on the evading arrest charge is $2,500 but she is being held without bond for the violation of probation. She will be in court December 12 for evading arrest and January 22 for the violation of probation. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, November 25, a deputy went to Bogle’s home on Holmes Creek Road to serve the VOP warrant on her. Bogle told the officer she had to put on different clothes before leaving. She went into a bedroom, slammed the door, and then went out another door exiting the home. The officer was unable to locate her. Bogle was picked up on Friday, December 6.
43 year old Jeffrey L. White of Seven Springs Road, Smithville was arrested on Saturday, December 7 for a fifth offense of driving on a revoked license. He was also issued a citation for a light law violation. He will be in court January 16. He was also served with a grand jury sealed indictment returned January 30, 2012 for promotion of methamphetamine. His bond is $20,000 and he will be arraigned January 22
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, December 7, a deputy observed a white truck traveling on North Congress Boulevard with a headlight out. The officer stopped the truck and spoke with the driver, White. A computer check revealed White’s drivers license was revoked for driving under the influence. He has four prior driving on revoked offenses against him. White was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.

The DeKalb County Republican Party will hold a Mass Meeting Saturday morning, January 11 at 10:00 a.m. in the first floor courtroom of the Courthouse.
Jennifer Winfree, Party Chairperson, said the purpose of the meeting is to select delegates to the DeKalb County Republican Convention and to give potential candidates an opportunity to formally announce their candidacies. The convention will be at the courthouse at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 18.
Republicans currently hold six local offices in DeKalb County County including Sheriff Patrick Ray, Trustee Sean Driver, Road Supervisor Kenny Edge, First District County Commissioner Mason Carter, Second District County Commissioner Bobby Joines, and Fifth District County Commissioner Jerry Adcock.
Edge does not plan to seek re-election but a Republican is expected to announce for the office.
GOP candidates nominated for county offices at the convention will run against any Democratic and or Independent candidates in the August General Election.
Local Democrats will have a primary to select their nominees on May 6.
Both parties have also called for a primary to select nominees for district judicial offices in the 13th district on May 6.
Winners of those primaries will run against each other and any Independents in the August General Election.
The qualifying deadline for the May 6 primaries is NOON February 20, 2014.

The threat of rain did not dampen the spirits of those who turned out Sunday to enjoy the Alexandria Christmas parade.
M2U01351 from dwayne page on Vimeo.
Showers held off as the parade made its way into town led by Alexandria Police Chief Mark Collins followed by Sheriff Patrick Ray and Constable Mark Milam. The parade also featured veteran Jimmy Mullinax, clowns, girl scout troops, queens from local pageants, the DCHS band, local businesses, State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, vintage automobiles, four wheelers and motorcycles, Alexandria and DeKalb County Fire trucks, Tennessee Division of Forestry and Smoky the Bear, Smithville- DeKalb Rescue Squad, DeKalb EMS, horseback riders, and Santa Claus.
Drawings were held after the parade for prize giveaways.

An elderly woman who was seriously injured in a two car crash in Alexandria last Wednesday night has died.
82 year old Mildred Spencer of the Temperance Hall area, who was airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga after the accident, passed away on Friday.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 53 and New Hope Road. Central dispatch received the call at 5:42 p.m.
Sergeant Eric McCormick of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that Spencer was traveling east from East Main Street crossing Highway 53 toward New Hope Road in a 1999 Chevy Lumina when her car was struck in the passenger side by a 2001 Toyota, driven by 52 year old Phyllis Asberry of Brush Creek who was traveling north on Highway 53.
The Asberry car came to rest off the east side of Highway 53 facing south. The Spencer car went off the east side of Highway 53 and crashed through a rock fence and into a small dry creek bed. Spencer was trapped inside the car.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s Extrication Team were called to the scene and removed the driver’s side door of Spencer’s car. She was then removed from the vehicle and taken by DeKalb EMS to meet a Life Force helicopter ambulance which landed on Highway 53 near the crash site.
Asberry was not transported by EMS and was not believed to have been seriously hurt.
Others on the scene were members of the Alexandria Police and Fire Departments and the Sheriff’s Department.
The funeral service for Spencer will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in McMinnville.
Spencer was a resident of Union Dale, Pennsylvania from 1954 before moving to Alexandria in 1987.
On August 21, 1948 she married Lei A. Spencer who died in 2002 after 54 years of marriage.
She is survived by two sons Alburn C. Spencer of Watertown and Mark (Patricia) E. Spencer of San Antonio Texas. Two sisters Charlotte (Price) Halstead and Dorothy (Price) Spencer, and a brother Charles Edward Price.
Heritage Funeral Homes & Cremation Services in Chattanooga is in charge of the arrangements.